In his piece, Peter MacKinnon addresses the growing issue of censorship within universities, citing several alarming incidents that illustrate the trend. For instance, professors at Texas A&M University are facing restrictions on their curriculums, with one instructor required to remove Plato from his reading list to avoid reassignment. Moreover, another faculty member was dismissed simply for discussing gender fluidity, underscoring the high stakes involved in academic freedom. These troubling developments highlight a systemic issue in higher education, where administrative actions appear to stifle open discourse and critical inquiry.

The piece references statistics from PEN America, which reported that in 2025 alone, lawmakers in 32 states proposed 93 bills aimed at censoring higher education. This legislative push is indicative of a broader cultural movement that seeks to control what can be taught and discussed in academic settings. The University of Texas at Austin is similarly affected, with reports indicating that 40% of faculty members felt pressured to alter their curricula. Additionally, the dismantling of the university’s faculty council raises serious concerns about the erosion of faculty governance and the processes that traditionally safeguard academic integrity.

Ultimately, MacKinnon argues that universities should have the capacity to deal with these issues internally, rather than yielding to external pressures that compromise academic freedom. He suggests that the solution lies not in censorship but in fostering an open dialogue where diverse viewpoints can be expressed and debated. This commentary serves as a critical reminder of the need to protect academic institutions from encroachments that threaten their intellectual and ethical foundations.